Pool cleaning apparatus

ABSTRACT

A pool cleaning apparatus is provided that employs a pump and a filtering device. An engine or motor drives the pump. The pump draws water into the pool cleaning apparatus through a vacuum wand. The pump moves the water through the filtering device to remove debris. The pool cleaning apparatus can be mounted onto a cart.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning swimming pools, spas, and hot tubs.

2. Description of the Related Art

Outdoor swimming pools are often exposed to sources of contamination. Leaves and sticks fall from surrounding trees, grass clippings eject from lawn mowers, and dirt and other trash are commonly near a swimming pool. Wind blows the grass, sticks, dirt, and other trash into the swimming pool, making the pool unsanitary and unpleasant to swim in.

To help maintain proper sanitation, swimming pools commonly include a circulation pump and filter system. The circulation pump draws water from the pool, pumps the water through a filter, and then returns the water to the pool. A strainer is typically installed where the circulation pump draws water from the swimming pool. The strainer is designed to strain leaves and other debris from the water in order to protect the circulation pump.

When many leaves and debris fall into the swimming pool, the pool requires additional cleaning beyond the installed filter system. Many pool-cleaning devices are available to move along the swimming pool bottom and lift debris from the bottom. Some pool-cleaning devices are categorized as suction type pool cleaners; other pool-cleaning devices are categorized as pressure type pool cleaners.

Present suction type pool cleaners typically use the swimming pool's circulation pump to develop suction, and some use the swimming pool's filter system to remove debris. Typical examples of suction type pool cleaners include U.S. Pat. No. 4,849,024 to Supra, U.S. Pat. No. 5,720,068 to Clark, and U.S. published patent application 2003/0208862 to Henkin. However, suction type pool cleaners that use the pool's filter system can put a heavy burden on the circulation pump and filter system. As leaves and debris accumulate in the strainer, the flow of water to the circulation pump is reduced. The strainer must be cleaned out repeatedly to prevent clogging, which reduces suction and potentially can cause harm to the circulation pump. In addition, circulation pumps typically need to be primed, which is inconvenient and time consuming for the operator. Because of the demands on the circulation pump, present suction type pool cleaners commonly have low suction and are limited in their ability to pick up heavy debris such as pebbles or sand. When the swimming pool's filter system is used to remove debris, the additional load on the filter makes filter maintenance and cleaning more frequent.

Pressure type pool cleaners operate on pressurized water that is supplied to the pool cleaner through a hose. The pressurized water is used to drive blades of a turbine that induce a flow of pool water into a collection bag. Some pressure type pool cleaners use a booster pump to generate added water pressure because the circulation pump used in many swimming pools does not create sufficient water pressure for effective cleaning. Typical examples of pressure type pool cleaners include U.S. Pat. No. 5,933,899 to Campbell, U.S. Pat. No. 5,930,856 to Van Der Meyden, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,479 to Greskovics. Most pressure type pool cleaners automatically move around the swimming pool bottom to collect debris. However, the direction of motion of pressure type pool cleaners is typically random, resulting in a slow and inefficient pool cleaning. In addition, while the pressure type pool cleaners typically have an attached collection bag, the collection bag is limited in size to keep the pool cleaner from falling over when the collection bag is full. When the swimming pool contains a large amount of debris, the collection bag must be repeatedly emptied. Further, the pressure type pool cleaners that use the swimming pool circulation pump for the supply of pressurized water may not have enough power to lift heavy debris from the swimming pool bottom.

While all of the pool-cleaning devices and systems available have furthered the art of swimming pool cleaning, none of the known prior art addresses a pool cleaner that can quickly and efficiently remove a large quantity of debris from a swimming pool. There remains a need for a powerful and efficient pool cleaning system and apparatus that does not rely on the circulation pump and filter system of the swimming pool for its power.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In response to the foregoing concerns, the present invention provides an apparatus for cleaning swimming pools. One embodiment of the pool cleaning apparatus includes a pump with an inlet and an outlet, suited to pump a mixture of contaminants (such as leaves and pebbles) and liquid (such as water). A gasoline engine is coupled to the pump to drive the pump. The pump provides suction to draw the mixture of contaminants and liquid into a vacuum wand that is connected to the pump inlet. The vacuum wand is designed to lift debris and water from the bottom of a swimming pool and may be configured with a long handle, or may be configured to move about the bottom of a swimming pool automatically when the pump is operating.

The mixture of contaminants and liquid that enter the pump inlet are expelled through the pump outlet into a transfer pipe, then through a filtering device. The filtering device includes a trap to strain large debris such as leaves, and a primary filter for straining smaller particles. The filtered water flows out of the filtering device through a discharge hose, and back into the swimming pool. In one embodiment, the primary filter comprises a permeable foam or fibrous material. In another embodiment, the primary filter comprises a filter media such as sand, gravel, plastic shavings, or granules.

In a further embodiment, the pool cleaning apparatus includes a pump with an inlet and an outlet, and a filtering device with an inlet and an outlet. A vacuum wand is attached to the inlet of the filtering device. The outlet of the filtering device is attached to the pump inlet. In this embodiment, suction from the pump draws a mixture of contaminants and liquid from a pool of water through the vacuum wand and through the filtering device where the contaminants are filtered out. The suction of the pump then draws filtered water from the filtering device through the pump. The filtered water is expelled out of the pump outlet and back to the pool.

In another embodiment, the pool cleaning apparatus is mounted to a cart so that the apparatus is portable. Alternately, the pool cleaning apparatus is permanently installed next to a pool of water.

The following description sets forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the present invention may be employed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view in partial cross section of a first embodiment of the pool cleaning apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view in partial cross section of a vacuum wand for the pool cleaning apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view in partial cross section of a trap for the pool cleaning apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of a first embodiment of the pool cleaning apparatus; and

FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of a second embodiment of the pool cleaning apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, a first embodiment of the pool cleaning apparatus of the present invention includes a pump 1 that has a pump inlet 2 and a pump outlet 4. The pump 1 is driven by a motor 6, and is suited to pump a mixture of contaminants and liquid. A vacuum wand 8 is illustrated in FIG. 2. The vacuum wand 8 includes a hose 10, an intake aperture 12, and a handle 14. The hose 10 is connected to the pump inlet 2, whereby the pump 1 can draw a mixture of contaminants and liquid from a pool of water through the intake aperture 12 and into the pump inlet 2. The pump 1 expels the mixture of contaminants and liquid through the pump outlet 4 into a transfer pipe 14. The mixture of contaminants and liquid flow through the transfer pipe 14 to a trap inlet 16, located inside of a filtering device 18.

The filtering device 18 includes a vessel 20 and a lid 22. The lid 22 is secured to the vessel 20 by a lid clamp 24. Inside the vessel 20, the mixture of contaminants and liquid discharge through the trap inlet 16 into a trap 26.

The trap 26 is situated to strain larger contaminants such as leaves and pebbles out of the mixture. Referring to FIG. 3, the trap 26 includes one or more peripheral surfaces 28 defining a container shaped to capture debris. The peripheral surfaces 28 include a plurality of holes or perforations to allow water to flow through the trap 26 but to retain contaminants such as leaves and pebbles inside of the trap 26. The trap 26 is removable for cleaning when the lid 22 is opened. In one embodiment, trap 26 further comprises an access door 30. The access door 30 is hinged to allow the operator to push the access door open as shown by position 30 a. The access door may be spring loaded to hold the access door 30 closed.

The partially separated liquid mixture passes through a primary filter 32. The primary filter 32 is a permeable foam or fibrous material in one embodiment. The primary filter 32 acts to further separate contaminants from the liquid before the liquid is expelled through a discharge hose 34. In a normal operation, the discharge hose 34 returns filtered water back to the pool of water.

In one embodiment, the filtering device 18 sits on a base 36. In another embodiment, the filtering device 18 includes features to sit without a base 36.

In one embodiment, the foregoing components are mounted to a cart 38, which has wheels 40 and a cart handle 42. The cart 38 makes the pool cleaning apparatus portable.

A second embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 5. The second embodiment includes a filtering device 44 with a filtering device inlet 46 and a filtering device outlet 48. The hose 10 of the vacuum wand 8 is connected to the filtering device inlet 46. The second embodiment includes a pump 1, with a pump inlet 2 and a pump outlet 4. The pump inlet 2 is connected to the filtering device outlet 48. The pump outlet 4 is connected to a discharge hose 50. The pump 1 is driven by a motor 6 and is sized so that the suction from the pump 1 will draw a mixture of contaminants and liquid from a pool of water through the intake aperture 12, through the hose 10, and through the filtering device 44. The filtering device 44 removes the contaminants from the mixture, and filtered water passes through the filtering device outlet 48 and into the pump inlet 2. The filtered water is expelled through the pump outlet 4 and through the discharge hose 50.

In the first embodiment, the pump 1 is capable of transferring a mixture of contaminants and liquid. In one embodiment, pump 1 is a type of pump commonly known in the art as a trash pump, which is designed to pass a mixture of debris and liquid. A trash pump has benefits over a regular pump because a trash pump is more durable and reliable for water that contains debris such as leaves and small pebbles. In the first and second embodiments, the pump may be self-priming.

In one embodiment, the motor 6 is a gasoline engine. Gasoline engines of this type are commonly available from manufacturers such as Briggs and Stratton or Honda and are well known in the art. Other types of engines or motors may be used as well. Some embodiments of the pool cleaning apparatus may use a suitable electric motor, or might operate with an engine of an alternate fuel, such as diesel.

The design of the filtering device 18 includes a method for removing the trap 26. As the trap 26 fills with leaves or other contaminants, it will become clogged, reducing the effectiveness of the apparatus. By unlatching the lid clamp 24, the operator can open the lid 22. Once the lid 22 is opened, the trap 26 can be removed and cleaned.

The primary filter 32 may be comprised of a permeable foam or fibrous material. The permeable foam or fibrous material is removable when the lid 22 is open for cleaning or replacement. The operator can remove the permeable foam or fibrous material and clean it with a garden hose.

The primary filter 32 may also be a sand filter. In a sand filter, water passes through a quantity of filter media, such as sand, gravel, plastic shavings, granules, or other filter media, which traps dirt particles. As the filter media fills with contaminants, the water flow gradually decreases. The operator replaces the filter media when it becomes filled with debris.

The handle 14 on the vacuum wand 8 is elongated so the operator can reach to the bottom of a swimming pool. The intake aperture 12 and hose 10 are of large enough diameters to draw in water with leaves and small sticks. In alternate embodiments, the vacuum wand 8 does not have an elongated handle 10. Instead, the vacuum wand 8 is designed to automatically move around the bottom of the pool when the pump is operating. Automatic propulsion of pool-cleaning devices is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,835,809 to Roumagnac and U.S. Pat. No. 5,933,899 to Campbell, which are herein incorporated by reference.

In another embodiment, the pool cleaning apparatus is mounted onto a cart 38 with wheels 40. The wheels 40 may be suited to roll over grass and gravel. The cart 38 has four wheels 40, but other designs could utilize two or three wheels 40 in alternate configurations. Furthermore, some embodiments could employ tracks or skids to be pulled over sand or other rough terrain. In alternate embodiments, the water filtrating system is permanently installed next to a pool of water and does not use a cart 38.

Although the principles, alternate embodiments, and operation of the present inventions have been described in detail herein, this is not to be construed as being limited to the particular illustrative forms disclosed. It will thus become apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications of the embodiments herein can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 

1. An apparatus for cleaning water comprising: a pump having an inlet and an outlet; a motor mechanically coupled to said pump; a vacuum wand comprising a hose with an intake aperture, wherein said hose is connected to said pump inlet; a filtering device having an inlet and an outlet, wherein said pump outlet is connected to said filtering device inlet; and said filtering device comprising a vessel having a lid, wherein said vessel contains a trap and a primary filter; wherein said pump draws water through said vacuum wand into said filtering device inlet and through said trap and said primary filter thereby removing contaminants from said water, wherein said water is thereafter discharged from said filtering device through said filtering device outlet.
 2. An apparatus for cleaning water as recited in claim 1, wherein said motor is selected from the group consisting of a gasoline engine, a diesel engine, and an electric motor.
 3. An apparatus for cleaning water as recited in claim 1, wherein said primary filter is comprised of a filtering media selected from the group consisting of permeable foam, fibrous material, sand, gravel, plastic granules, and plastic shavings.
 4. An apparatus for cleaning water as recited in claim 1, wherein said pump pulls water through said vacuum wand and pushes water into said filtering device inlet.
 5. An apparatus for cleaning water as recited in claim 1, wherein said pump pulls water through said vacuum wand and into said filtering device inlet.
 6. An apparatus for cleaning water as recited in claim 1, further comprising a cart for holding said apparatus.
 7. An apparatus for cleaning water as recited in claim 6, wherein said cart further comprises means for portability selected from the group consisting of wheels, skids, and tracks.
 8. An apparatus for cleaning water as recited in claim 1, wherein said vacuum wand further comprises a handle.
 9. An apparatus for cleaning water as recited in claim 1, wherein said vacuum wand further comprises means for automatic propulsion.
 10. An apparatus for cleaning a swimming pool comprising: a pump having an inlet and an outlet; a gasoline engine mechanically coupled to said pump; a vacuum wand comprising a hose with an intake aperture, wherein said hose is connected to said pump inlet; a filtering device having an inlet and an outlet, wherein said pump outlet is connected to said filtering device inlet, said filtering device comprising a vessel, wherein said vessel contains a trap and a primary filter; a discharge hose connected to said filtering device outlet; and a cart with said apparatus for cleaning a swimming pool mounted on said cart; wherein said pump draws water through said vacuum wand into said filtering device inlet and through said trap and said primary filter thereby removing contaminants from said water, wherein said water is thereafter discharged from said filtering device through said discharge hose.
 11. An apparatus for cleaning water as recited in claim 10, wherein said primary filter is comprised of a filtering media selected from the group consisting of permeable foam, fibrous material, sand, gravel, plastic granules, and plastic shavings.
 12. An apparatus for cleaning water as recited in claim 10, wherein said pump pulls water through said vacuum wand and pushes water into said filtering device inlet.
 13. An apparatus for cleaning water as recited in claim 10, wherein said pump pulls water through said vacuum wand and into said filtering device inlet.
 14. An apparatus for cleaning water as recited in claim 10, wherein said cart further comprises means for portability selected from the group consisting of wheels, skids, and tracks.
 15. An apparatus for cleaning water as recited in claim 10, wherein said trap and primary filter are removable from said filtering device.
 16. An apparatus for cleaning water as recited in claim 10, wherein said vacuum wand further comprises an elongated handle.
 17. An apparatus for cleaning water as recited in claim 10, wherein said vacuum wand further comprises means for automatic propulsion.
 18. An apparatus for cleaning a pool comprising: a pump having an inlet and an outlet; an engine mechanically coupled to said pump; a pool cleaner comprising a hose with an intake aperture, wherein said hose is connected to said pump inlet; a filtering implement having an inlet and an outlet, wherein said pump outlet is connected to said filtering implement inlet; said filtering implement comprising a container, wherein said container contains a strainer and a filter; a discharge hose connected to said filtering implement outlet; and a frame, wherein said apparatus for cleaning a pool is mounted on said frame; wherein said pump draws water through said pool cleaner into said filtering implement inlet and through said strainer and said filter thereby removing debris from said water, wherein said water is thereafter discharged from said filtering implement through said discharge hose.
 19. An apparatus for cleaning water as recited in claim 18, wherein said pool cleaner further comprises means for automatic propulsion.
 20. An apparatus for cleaning water as recited in claim 18, further comprising one or more wheels connected to said frame for portability. 